Dostępność drogowa polskich granic

With Poland’s accession to the Schengen Area, there occurred significant transformations in the intensity of border traffic. At the same time, the research possibilities concerning analysis of borders’ permeability were greatly reduced. As a result, as regards relationships with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania, an optimal technical permeability was achieved (Schengen Area), with the border services ceasing to monitor and record the movement of people and vehicles. However, at the eastern border (with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine) that permeability was again significantly restricted. The role of border as a formal and legal barrier was strengthened. The acquisition of road traffic statistics there is still possible. A dichotomous situation now exists where comparative analysis of the conditions at the particular sections of border is significantly difficult to carry out. The complete lifting of controls at the intra-Union borders meant the de facto closing down of a specific border transport infrastructure. Thus the opportunities for development of mutual socio-economic relationships between the neighbouring countries are dependent on the actually existing transborder transport infrastructure which can be understood as a physical existence of road and rail routs that cross the borders, as well as their quality (standard). In view of the aforementioned factors, the road accessibility is a convenient measure of border permeability. The paper’s objective is to analyze the road accessibility to Poland’s border crossings from Polish territory as well as in mutual relations (transit). In the paper, the following elements are subsequently characterized; a) the position of Polish borders as an element influencing spatial diversification of potential accessibility at the continental level, b) time accessibility for the particular sections of Polish borders, c) mutual accessibility for selected road border crossings. On that basis, in the sum-up, factors deciding about accessibility of particular borders for road transport are defined, as well as offering recommendations concerning directions for accessibility improvement. The paper is based upon the findings of comprehensive research concerning accessibility that has been carried out under the framework of several European and national projects for the past few years in the Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization (IGiPZ) and foreign scientific centres. The paper makes use of in-depth analyses of road and potential accessibility.